Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-08-04
Handlcraft.

Handlcraft.
A writer in .Scribner declares that We
ale in the midst of great revival OF
landicraft, (WHICH" he adds, "has
assumed the character OF a practical
protest against the dominant influence
of machine manufactures that tend 10
reduce distinctions of labor to com
mon level" Our writer, after de-
scribing what is meant by handicraft,
in its better sense, takes the ground
that tho revival of craftsmanship
"discoyers the fact that there is o large
class, rapidly growing in numbers,
whose taste and discretion will not &C
cept machine-made things; they re-
quire in everything with which they
surround themselves some expression
of sensibility and thought some
thoroughness as to excellence OF de-
sign and workmanship-in short, they
demand that all things shall be beauti-
full as well as useful, in imitation OF
that intelligence which hath made all
things beautiful III His time, deeming
it to be through some such means or
worthy ambition that society i, raised
above the bare needs Of physical eI-
istence to q realization Of the truth that
when first wants are satisfied, then
the higher wants become inspiration
as higher necessity of human life"
The Chicago Inter- ocean, in COM
menting on this, remarks:
"But the revival is not only valuable
as contributing to the increase OF taste
i'll sentimental sense ; 1t Is chiefly in
teresting as giving broader education
and finer culture to the craftsman
than possible i'll the case of the ordi-
many operative, who is, indeed, little
more than part OF his machine, the
aim OF flesh experimenting the arm of
steel. Machinery has supplanted all
manual skill In most directions, 80 that
tie artihcer does little more than weld
odds and ends together, the master
workman having become mere ap-
prentice. 'for every article that for
merly called for inventive skill in the
making is now furnished the arti-
fiotr by the manufacturer, ready
made On the contrary. the crafts
man proper, at once an inventor and
producer, puts forth an honest, healthy
activity i'll wrestling with his tasks, a
manly activity both of body and mind.
The profit and reward Of bis labor is in
the thing produced no less than its
commercial value it is product OF
thought, of invention, Of skill-s thing
created. Zeal enters into the man and
msnifests itself in his work. His mind
runs ahead OF his work TO new de-
mands, fine possibilities. better results,
and the friction OF awakened thoughts
educates the man, and il with high
degree OF dexterity there goes a CORE
spending fertility OF thought We have a
craftsman, like Palsy, elevating his
art and himself together, giving the
world pleasant service and good causo
10 remember him."
The Inter Ocean contends, more
over, that bandicraft is art as we'll as
usefulness, ethical as well as practical,
sentimental as we'll as commercial.
"The rudest cobbler," it observes in
conclusion, expanding his poor inge-
nuiiy in twisting piece OF leather into
anew shape for shoe of his own do
signing is happier thousand times
over than the operative who perfuncto-
rily places bis strips of hide under the
cutter or feeds them into the machine. "
10th our writer in Scribner, and our
Cbicogo contemporary was right. There
will, of course, be no falling off in the
nember Of articles manufactured by
=. machinery, but all the same the de-
kanaid for handwork is increasing, and
h III continue TO increase. And to meet
&lis demand We must have industrial
md srt schools-sehools in which the
we and hand will be trained, the inven.
live faculty stimulated, and a genuine
4 love for the artistic cultivated.
The city that has a thoroughly
equipped institution Of the character
3 described will not only have O
happy and contented artisan popula
tion, but must become hive OF small
Industries and a centre Of refinement
Let our people consider this matter
when they are appealed TO for aid in
putting our Mechanics Institute upor
firm and comprehensive basis. Every
sentence We have quoted from tht
writer in Scribner and the Chicago
Inter. Ocean is pregnant with valuabl,
suggestions to all classes in this com
- mupity, and an argument in favor O
supporting literally the Richmond in
stitution referred to.